Vending-machine



L VONS.

vswmm; MACHINE. v APPLICATION FILED MINE 5,1919. 1,351,590. PatentedAug. 31, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

fzzyezziaz Jomv Von s .I. VONS.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE 5,1919.

1,351,590. Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

5 SHEETSSH'EET 2.

2 a I r 56 15. H4 :s in. 5340 1 74 l. VONS.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNES, I919.

Patentd Aug. 31, 192

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- J. VONS.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE 5,1919.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

Patented Aug. 31,

J. VONS.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FiLED JUNE 5, 1919.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

fzzzrezzior fig, 15

JOHN VON'S, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

VENDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters'Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

Application filed June 5, 1919." Serial No. 301,983.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN VoNs, a citizen of the United States, residentof Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented newand useful Improvements in Vending-Machines, of which the following is aspecification, the principle of the invention being herein explained'andthe best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, soas to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates to Vending machines and particularly to machines ofthis character adapted to hold a plurality of circular cans or similarcontainers and dispense the same one at a time as required. Particularlydoes the invention relate to a vending machine of this character inwhich apparatus economically manufactured and assembled shall withcertainty discharge the contents only upon the machine being played by aperfect coin of the proper denomination.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain means embodying my invention, the disclosed means, however,constituting but one of the various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention maybe employed.

In said annexed drawings Figure 1 represents a side elevation of theapparatus, parts being shown in section,

the operating lever being shown in normal position; 7 r

Fig. 1 represents a transverse section taken in the plane indicated bythe line i, Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 represents a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1, the operatinglever being shown in the extreme forward position and a can being shownas delivered;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section,

taken in the plane indicated by the line IIL-III', Fig.12;

Fig. 4 represents a vertical longitudinal section taken in the planesindicated by the line IVIV,-Fig.-12; a

Fig. 5 represents a vertical longitudinal section taken in the planesindicated by the line VV, Fig. 12, all parts in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 beingshown in those positions which respectively occupy when the operatnglever 1s 1n itsnormal position;

- F igs.,-6, 7 and 8 represent, respefit ively,

Views similar to those shown in Figs. 3, 4

' and 5, except that, in said Figs. ,6, 7 and8,

the parts are shown in those positions which they respectively occupywhen a coin has been inserted into the machine and has dropped throughand from a coin chute and into a slot in a longitudinally reciprocablemember hereinafter more fully described;

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 represent, respectively, views similar to those shownin Figs. 3, 4 and 5, except that the several parts are shown in therespective positions which they occupy when the operating lever has beenmoved to its extreme forward position;

Figs. '12 and 13 represent, respectively longitudinal horizontalsections, taken in the planes indicated respectively ,by the linesXII-XII and XIII-XIII, Fig. 3;

Figs 14 and .15 indicate vertical transverse sections taken intherespective planes indicated by the. lines XIV-XIV and XVXV, Fig. 8. vf

Referring to the annexed drawings,there is therein disclosed a mainframe1 constructed in any suitable manner and in which are mounted anydesired number of communicating inclined planes upon which, thro'ughasuitable door memberl, a plurality of containers 4 are adapted to bepositioned and down which ,planes they are fed in the manner hereinafterfully described. 'For the purposes of illustration, 1

haveshown in the accompanying drawings two of said communicatinginclined planes, indicated by the ordinals 2 and 3, respectively. Theseplanes or tracks are each formed by a pair of channels 22 and 3,3,respectively, secured to the side membersof the main frame 1 and uponthe projecting flanges of which the containers 4 ride." The sides ofthey frame 1 with the ported by and, for the most part, in a cas ing 5suitably mounted in the lower righthand corner of the main frame 1, asplainly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper surface 7 of said casing 5also being formed to provide an inclined plane. The inclined plane 3does not feed directly to the inclined plane formed by the casing 5, butthere is provided intermediately of said inclined planes 3 and 5 anauxiliary track section 6 suitably pivoted upon a pin 7 suitably mountedin the bracket 8 supported by the casing 5. Said track section 6consists of an upper track section proper 6 and a lower arm 6respectively. The pivotalaction of the track 6 is adapted to transferthe foremost container 4 from the inclined plane 3 to the uppermostpoint 9 of the inclined plane 5, all as hereinafter described in detail.The normal position of the pivoted track 6 is that plainly shown inFigs. 1 and 3 and is maintained by means of a suitable spring 10.

Upon the floor 1 1. of the casing 5 a longitudinally reciprocableplunger 12 is positioned and provided with suitable guides 63' and 51The normal position of said plunger 12 is that plainly shown in Figs.3,4 and 5 and the same is maintained by a spring 13 fastened at itsrespective ends to a pin .17 extending downwardly from the forward endof the plunger 12 and to a bracket 18 secured to the fioor 11 of thecasing 5. Laterally extending from the plunger 12 and intermediately ofthe ends thereof, are two pins '19, Figs. 12 and 13, the purpose ofwhich will be hereinafter fully explained. Secured .to the side of theplunger 12 opposite that from which the pins 19 project, is a frame 14whose design and plan is plainly shown inFig. 13 and which is providedwith a coin slot 15. This frame 14 is provided with surfaces in threehorizontal planes, the lowermost of which is indicated by the ordinal14, the intermediate of which is indicated by the ordinal 14 and thehighest of which is indicated by the ordinal 20. Secured upon the uppersurface of the'plunger 12 adjacently the frame 14-is a projection 16.The purposes of theseseveral features centered about the frame 14 willbe -hereinafter fullydescribed. It is designed that by means not yetdescribed,'a coin 21 shall be delivered intothe slot 15,.but nottherethrough in the first instance, the bot-' tom of the slot beingclosed by means ofthe I floor 11 of the casing 5 in the normalpositionof the arts as lainl shown in Fi s.

3 and 4. It is also designed that if a' bogus coin or an imperfect coin,too heavy or too.

light,'is fed into the-machine, it shallnot reach the slot 15. Theposition of a genuine com 21 which is now being described, is

plainly illustratediin Fig. 7. V

Mounted in suitable brackets in the casing 5: is the crankshaft 23,tothe outer end of which a suitable crank arm 24. is secured,

suitable stops 26 and25 being'providedto limit the respective forwardand rearward its upper end in a bracket 33 secured to the under face ofa plate 62 which in turn is secured to the underface of the inclinedplane 5. The lower end of said pivoted arm 32 extends through the spacebetween the pins 19 hereinbefore described as extended laterally fromthe reciprocable plunger 12.

Also secured to the under face of the plate 62 are members forming acoin chute 34, having an open side 34', and rear face openings 34plainly shown in Figs; 7 and 14. An obliquely, longitudinally disposedarm 36, provided with a front face portion 37, extended through andforwardly of the casing 5, is pivotally secured at its inner end to adownwardly extending member 38 pivotally supported by the plate 62 by apin 38 and adapted to clear the coin slot 29 in the segment 27 and thecoin slot 34, if the weight of a container 4 or containers is bearingagainst the face portion 37, as plainly shown in Fig. 3. If no suchpressure is being exerted upon the face portion 37 of the arm 36, thenthe shutter 38 is closed over the coin slot 29 and the coin slots 29 and34 do not communicate and no coin can be put into the machine. Thisobviates any chance of playing the machine, when no containers aretherein. V A

Disposed adjacently the lower parts of the sides of the coin chute'34and the bottom thereof is a pivoted coin retaining frame 39 providedwith a depending lip portion 40, said frame 39 being pivotally supportedupon the outer end of a resiliently held arm 41- pivotally mounted in abracket 68 depending from the plate 62, by means of a pin 68', the exactnormal position of the swinging frame 39 being determined by thestrength of a spring 67 secured at one end to the arm 41 and at theother end to arm 68 threaded at one end upon a pin 69 mounted in theupper end of the walls of the coin chute 34. It will be readilyunderstood 7 that the actuation of a nut 70 will determine the positionof the threaded arm 68 upon.

the pin 69 and hence the strength with which the spring 67 holds theswinging frame 39. Theobject of this lastrdescribed construction is thatwhen a proper coin is inframe an amount sufiicient to efiect the properfunctioning of the machine in the manner hereinafter fully described. Itmight be stated here that if too light a coin is inserted, the frame 39will be depressed too slight an amount, and if too heavy a coin isinserted, said frame will be depressed too great an amount, with theresults hereinafter fully described. It might also be stated that thethree different levels hereinbefore described obtaining to thereciprocable frame 14, cotiperate with the several amounts of depressionimparted to the coin retaining frame 39 by too light, perfect, and tooheavy coins, respectively, in themanner hereinafter fully described.

Mounted upon a pin 42 suitably supported in a member 48 and retained ina normal position by means of a spring 43, is a pivoted frame providedwith a rearwardly extending bent arm 45, said arm extending laterallythrough a slot 47 inter secting the bottom of the member 43, said frame44 being adapted to be pivotally swung, in a manner hereinafter fullydescribed, against the action of the spring 43, so that said outwardextending portion of the arm 45 shall be depressed and the bent portionthereof shall contact with the rear wall 46 of the slot 47, and the mainportion thereof shall lie in the path of the projection 16, for thepurpose hereinafter fully described. Said pivoted frame 44 is disposedin the longitudinal vertical planes passing through the coin slot 15,for a purpose hereinafter fully described. The bottom rear corner of themember 48 is clownwardly extended and then outwardly bent to form a hook49 adapted to slide under a guide 63 formed upon a hood 63 hereinaftermore fully mentioned and an upwardly extended bridge portion of whichforms the guide 63 for the reciprocable plunger 12 hereinbefore fullydescribed. A downwardly extending portion 48 of the member 48 bears uponthe floor 11. The forward end of the member 48 is formed to receive apin 50 upon which is pivotally supported the lower arm 6 of the pivotedtrack section 6 which has been hereinbefore described and is pivotedupon the pin 7.

.Pivoted upon a pin 51, a roller portion of which 51 forms the rearguide for the reciprocable plunger 12, is a frame 51, to the outer endof which is pivoted, by means of a pin 53, a frame 52 in turn pivotedintermediately its ends to an outwardly extending arm 54 also pivotedupon the pin 7. The upper end of the arm 52 is adapted, in certainpositions of the mechanism, to extend up between the adjacent sectionsof the inclined plane 3 and the pivoted track 6, to prevent thecontainers 4 from rolling by gravity from said plane 3 onto the planenormally occupied by said track 6, as plainly shown in Fig. 9.

Formed in the floor 11 of the casing 5 is a coin slot 55, Fig. 13,leading to a coin box 56. Two comparatively large openings 61 and 61,respectively, disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the transverse planespassing through said coin box 56, are also formed in said floor 11 for apurpose hereinafter fully described.

Suitably pivotally supported upon a pin 59 from the'bracket 60, securedto the plate 62, is a swinging frame 58 of non-magnetic material towhich is secured a horse-shoe magnet 57 normally held adjacently theslots 34 of the coin chute 34. The walls of said coin chute are alsomade of nonmagnetic metal. This magnet is forthe usual purpose ofholding a bogus coin or slug if the same is inserted through the coinopenings 29 and 34' into the chute 34. At a suitable point in theoperation, the swinging hanger 58 is pulled away from the coin chute 34to release the slug by the means now to be described. One side of theswinging hanger 58 is formed with an extending arm 58' which lies in thepath of movement of the pivoted arm 32 and is intersected by the latterto withdraw the swinging frame 58 from the coin chute 34, at a certainpoint of the movement of the lever 32 to be hereinafter fully described.Secured to the forward portion of the floor 11 of the casing 5 is thebridge 63 hereinbefore mentioned, and of the general design and planplainly shown in Fig. 13. This bridge is in reality a cover or hood forcertain parts of the mechanism and is provided with the lip 63hereinbefore mentioned, the under surface of which forms a guide for theextending hook portion 49 of the member 48. Pivotally mounted upon theaxis 23 and adjacentlly the far end thereof, as seen in Fig. 3, is aswinging frame 65, Figs. 5, 8 and 11, formed at the bottom with twolaterally extending, outwardly turned lips 65'. This frame is for thepurpose of positively insuring the return of the several mechanisms tonormal positions, after the machine has been played and the crank handleis moved from right to left, Fig. 2. The several positions of thisswinging frame 65 are plainly shown in said Figs. 5, 8 and 11, the samein the normal position of the apparatus being held by the arm 30 and lip65' in the position shown in Fig. 5, swinging freely in the ositionshown in Fig. 9, and carried by the arm 32 to the position shown in Fig.11, when the parts are in their extreme forward positions.

It will be evident that the operation of the afore-described mechanismis as follows:

Assuming that the parts are in the several normal positions indicated inFigs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 14 and 15, a perfect coin is inserted throughthe coin slots 29 and 34 which register because they are designed toregister when a container or containers are bearing against the faceportion 37 of the plate 36,-as shown in Fig. 3, said coin being intendedto deliverto a forwardly disposed accessible pocket 66, the container 4,of

'which a full end view is shown in Fig. 3.

Said coinfalls to the bottom of the chute 34 and depresses a properamount the swingmg frame 39, as plainly shown in Fig. 4.

The actuation of the crank arm 24 results,

bottom side of which the coin is being held Just so soon as the level 14of the frame 14 intersects the lip 40 of the frame 39, the pivotec frame89 is carried rearwardly and, inasmuch as the upper part of the coin 21is still retained by the side walls of the chute 34, said coin cannot becarried rearwardly by said swinging frame 39, and consequently fallsinto the slot 15 which, at that proper moment, is disposed directlyunderneath the chute 34, which slot 15 has its lower end closed by thefloor 11 of the casing 5, as plainly shown in Fig. 7. The continuedactuation of the crank handle 24 results in the continued rearwardmovement of the plunger 12 and consequently the member 14 cars rying thecoin 31. he upper part of said coin intersectsthe depending andforwardly extending pivoted member 44 and carries same rearwardly forits limited pivotal movement, 2'. 6., until the laterally extending bentportion ,45 thereof meets the rear side wall 46 of the slot 47. Then themember 48 including the pivoted frame 44 which can be 1 swung nofurther, is carried rearwardly by sitioned thereon up over the forwardupper point '9 of the inclined track 5, whence said container 4 rollsdown into the pocket 66. This continued rearward movement of the frame'14 has carried the 00111 21 contained in the slot 15 to a point wheresaid slot 15 registers with the slot formed in the rear portion of thefloor 11 of the casing 5 and the coin drops through said slot 55 intothe coin chamber 56, as plainly shown in Fig. 10. At the same time therearward movement of the plunger 12 has resulted in the rear beveledface 12 of the same cooperating with a bevel face 51 formed in the lowersurface of the pivoted member 51, thus lifting said member 51 andconsequently lifting the pivoted frame 52, the upper end of whichextends up forwardly of the subsequent can 4 and prevents the same fromrolling into the open space normally occupied by the pivoted tracksection 6. The release of the crank arm 24 results, through the actionof the spring 13, in the movement of all of the parts to their normalpositions, "this consequent withdrawing of the barrier formed by theupper end of the frame 52 resulting in a rolling of the next can 4 uponthe pivoted track section 6 which, in common with the other parts of themechanism, has retaken its normal position.

In the event that a bogus coin 22 is inserted through the coin slots 29and 38, the same is held in the upper part of the coin chute by themagnet 5'7. This magnet is not withdrawn by the action of the lip 58 andarm 32 until the coin slot 15 has passed beyond the vertical planecontaining the coin chute 34, so that said bogus coin 22 falls upon thefloor 11 of the casing 5 and is swept from said casing through theopening 61 out of the machine by the frame 14 when the same is comingback to its normal position, as plainly shown in Fig. 10. In the eventthat a coin too light is put into the machine, the same will not depressthe pivoted frame 39 sufficiently to allow the lip 40 to be intersectedby the surface 14 of the frame 14, but the highest point or surface ofsaid frame, which is indicated by the ordinal 20, will intersect saidlip 40 to release'the coin from the frame 39 and from the chute 34.This, of course, happens after the coin chute 15 has passed beyond thevertical plane containing the chute 34, so that the light coin fallsupon the floor 11 of the casing 5 and is swept out through the opening61 upon the return movement of the frame 14. In the event that a 'cointoo heavy is put into the machine, the same depresses the frame 39 to anextent sufficient to allow the lowermost surface 14 of the frame 14 tointersect the swinging frame 39, so that the heavy coinris released fromthe frame 39 and the chute 34 before the coin slot 15 registers with thechute 34, the result being that the heavy coin falls upon the floor llrearwardly of the frame 14 and is swept by the frame 14 over the narrowslot 55 and out of the machine through the open ing 61, as will bereadily understood. lVhat I claim is: c 1. In a vending machine, a coinoperated mechanism, comprising a coin chute, a pivoted coin retainingframe disposed adjac'ei ...y to the lower p of the sides of the coinchute. an opera i plunger shiftable D ransvcrsely across the lower endof the chute, and a frame carried by said plunger pi'ovid with aplurality of horizontally disposed levels adapted to cooperate with saidretaining frame to release coins therefrom at different positions of theplunger.

ln a vending machine, a coin operated mechanism, comprising a coinchute, a pivoted coin retaining frame resiliently disposed adjacentlythe lower parts of the sides of the chute, an operating plungershiftable transversely across the lower end of the chute, and frai ismounted on said plunger at one side thereof having a plurality ofhorizontally disposed levels adapted to cooperate with said retainingframe to properly dispose of the coins.

3. In a vending machine, the combination of a main frame, a casingmounted in said frame by which the operating parts are sup ported, acoin chute mounted in said casing, a pivoted coin retaining frameresiliently disposed adjacently the lower parts of the sides of thechute, a longitudinally reciprocable plunger mounted in said casing, anda frame carried by said plunger provided with surfaces disposed in threeiorizontal planes and adapted to contact with said retaining frame torelease coins therefrom at three different positions of said plunger.

4. In a vending machine, the combination of a main frame, a casingmounted in said frame by which the operating parts are supported, a coinchute mounted in. said casing, a pivoted coin-retaining frame disposedbeneath said chute and close enough to be depressed by the weight of thecoin, means for adjusting the resiliency of said pivoted frame, alongitudinally reciprocable plunger mounted in said casing, and a framecarried by said plunger in the path of the pivoted frame provided withsurfaces disposed in three horizontal planes and adapted to contact withsaid pivoted frame to release coins therefrom at three differentpositions of said plunger.

5. in a vending machine, a coin operated mechanism, comprising a coinchute, a pivoted resiliently. supported coin retaining frame disposedbeneath said chute and close enough to be depressed by the weight of thecoin, means for regulating the resiliency of said frame, an operatingplunger shiftable across the lower end of the chute, and a frame carriedby said chute provided with a plurality of horizontal levels adapted toassert and properly distribute the genuine coins from the spurious coinsby the shifting movements of said plunger.

6. In a vending machine, a coin operated mechanism, comprising a coinchute, a pivoted resiliently supported coin retaining frame disposedbeneath said chute and close enough to be depressedby the weight of the00111, a lip depending from said frame,

means for adjusting the resiliency of said frame, an operating plungershiftable across the lower end of the chute, a frame mounted atone sideof said plunger in the path of said pivoted frame provided with threehorizontally disposed levels, said levels being so neath said chuteclose enough to be depressed by the weight of a coin, means forregulating the resiliency of said frame, an operating plunger shiftabletransversely across the lower end of the chute, a frame carried by saidplunger and mounted at one side thereof in the path of said pivotedretaining frame, said last-named frame having surfaces disposedin aplurality of different levels, said levels being so arranged that a cointoo heavy will depress the coin retaining frame into contact with thelowermost level during its rearward movement whereby the spurious coinis released and swept out of the machine by the continued rearwardmovement.

8. In a vending machine, a coin operated mechanism, comprising a coinchute, a pivoted resiliently supported coin-retaining frame providedwith a depending lip and disposed beneath said chute close enough to bedepressed by the weight of a coin, means for regulating the resiliencyof said frame, an operating plunger shiftable transversely across thelower end of the coin chute, a frame mounted on said plunger in the pathof the pivoted frame and provided with a plurality of iorizontallydisposed levels adapted to cooperate with said coin retaining frame torelease coins therefrom at different positions of the plunger.

9. In a vending machine, acoin operated mechanism comprising a coinchute, a pivoted resiliently supported coin-retaining frame disposedbeneath said chute, an operating plungershiftable across the lower endof the coin chute, and means carried by said plunger and adapted tocontact with said pivoted frame at three different positions of theplunger for releasing the coins, and

swinging resiliently supported frame disposed beneath said chute. meansfor varying the resiliency of said frame, an operating plunger shiftableacross the lower end of the chute, a frame secured to said plungerprovidedwith a coin slot, said last mentioned frame being provided withsurfaces disposed in three horizontal planes and adapted to contactWithsaid swinging frame to release coins therefrom at three different10,

positions of the plunger, and means operated direct by a genuine coinfor assuring the delivery of an object Signed by me, this 31st day ofMay, 1919.

JOHN voNs.

